..Dream Sequence..

Shepard walks out of the house to find Rannoch in flames, his home destroyed. He looks around frantically for signs of life, I glowing crack in a rock presents itself. He reaches to it and a three fingered hand comes to his shoulder.

..End Dream Sequence..

Shepard wakes up sweating and breathing heavily, Tali shot up as soon as she noticed. He was shivering as he regained himself from the shock of his nightmare.

"Are you ok?," Tali asked, she put a hand on his shoulder.

"I, I'm just having nightmare problems," He said, the image of Rannoch in flames disturbed him deeply.

He then began analyzing his state, high temperature, delerium, he was getting sick. He immediately got up and put his envirosuit on. Tali noticed something was wrong and followed suit, she slipped her suit on as well.

"I think my mother may have brought something in with her," Shepard said as he crawled back into bed, his temperature dropped back down over time and his head cleared.

Tali followed him back into bed and cuddled up to him, "I'm just glad you caught it before it got serious, I was worried when I felt how hot your skin was to the touch."

He stroked her arm and they slowely drifted back to sleep. His dream shifted from a nightmare to something different. It was like his heart was talking to him, he listened.

..Dream Sequence..

Shepard was running to a clear spot after the Reaper had knocked the platform out from under them.

"How are we supposed to fight that thing," Tali said frightened as she followed closely behind.

Flash forward

"If we run away the Geth stay under control and the Quarians are dead. This ends now!" Shepard said as he prepared himself to destroy the reaper however he could.

"If this doesn't, if we don't make it..." Tali began.

"You worry too much." Shepard said.

"I love you."

"Keelah se'lai"

Flash forward

"You, whatever species you came from. They died thousands of years ago and now they can rest in piece."

"Shepard!" Tali ran over to him.

Flash forward

"Shopping for another house?" Shepard asked Tali as she walked to the cliff edge.

"Beachfront property," she replied jokingly.

"Claim it fast, it's a buyers market," he countered.

Tali sat down staring out at her homworld, Shepard sat next to her.

"You ok? I know working with the Geth will be difficult."

"I'm not staying, I'm coming with you," she glanced over at him with longing in her eyes,

"I wasn't going to ask," he said knowing how much this moment meant to her.

"Why not?"

"Because I respect you damnit. You think I don't want you to come with me?"

"So ask me."

"Tali..."

"I don't know how much time we have left, I don't know if we can beat the Reapers."

"But whatever happens, I want to be with you..."

"I bet you say that to every guy who gets you a homeworld," he joked.

"Only the cute ones," she joked back.

"You know I'd understand if you needed to stay."

"I know, but..."

"I look at all this... This picture of hope and peace. And all I see, is everyone I've lost."

"My team on Heastrom, my father, even Legion. I'm mourning a Geth, how crazy is that?"

"It's not crazy at all."

Tali got up and looked out to the landscape.

"It is beautiful though, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is."

"It will be years before we can live without our suits completely, but right now..."

She removed her visor, "Right now, I have this."

.. End Dream Sequence..

Tali woke up to find Shepard outside looking off the cliff. She slipped out of bed and went outside. He was looking out at the scenery that was before them, great plains of grass and the beach sitting to the left, the waves rolling in and out slowely.

"Hey," Tali walked up and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, how'd you sleep?" He asked grasping her hand.

"I slept well thanks to you," She went up and pulled herself close to him.

"I dreamt of you last night, when we saved the homeworld."

"I, I know," She stuttered.

"How?"

"I did too."

They both sat down on the cliff edge and looked out. She layed down and rested her head in his lap. He put his arm around her and relaxed, he was thinking about their future together moreso than ever before. She noticed he was deep in thought as she looked up at him, then decided to enjoy the moment.

"I spoke with some Geth and we're going to have a pool installed later this week."

"Keelah Shepard, what about the ocean? It's right there," she said quite curious as to his reasoning.

"We both aren't immune to bateria in the ocean yet, and the Geth said that they would build a sterile field into a small portion of the ocean for us, basically a pool."

She paused for a moment realizing what he was talking about, "I see, I would like that. A chance to swim in the waters of the homeworld. Without an envirosuit at that," She smiled at the thought of learning to swim. The cramped space of the Migrant Fleet meant that there was no room for such commodities.

Shepard smiled at the image of Tali in a bikini, he couldn't help it after all he was partly human.

Asheley walked outside and watched the two of them. She didn't want to bother them so she went out front and sat on a bench. She popped a cigarette in her mouth and lit it. She was happy her boy had found love and a life he would enjoy. She was secretly planning the gifts she would buy, both for the child and for the future wedding. She took a drag and relaxed knowing she had raised a good son and was proud to call Tali her "daughter".

The couple started heading back to the house, stomachs growling. Shepard opened the door for Tali and proceeded into the kitchen. Ashley finished her cigarette and reentered the house. She walked into the kitchen and motioned for Shepard to let her do the cooking this morning, he nodded and went to sit by Tali.

She was rubbing her hand on her stomach, she could feel it getting bigger every day. He put his hand on her leg and touched visors. He knew if either of them removed their visor, they could potentially get sick. He looked into her eyes as Ashley walked out of the kitchen, he looked over at her. He got up and had her step outside for a moment as he engaged the sterile field. They then walked into the kitchen to bring the food out.

Tali removed her visor and Shepard followed suit, they both looked t the meal Ashley had prepared, Hash Browns, Eggs, Bacon and bread lightly buttered. Tali took in the aroma as she began to eat. Shepard looked over at his mother and smiled in gratatude, she smiled back and picked up the fork.

"You remember to neutralize the Amino Acids in your food right?" Shepard asked.

"Yes, I'm aware I can'teat it without neutralizing the acids. I appreciate your concern though," she smiled and went back to her plate.

"So mom, if your going back to the alliance you should talk to Hacket about assigninng you aboard the new R&S Normandy," Shepar said.

"Oh? Isn't that the ship you commanded for a while?"

"Yes, the S&R Normandy is a remake of the origional MSV Normandy SR2."

"Designed for speed and has a larger cargo space than the origional I'm guessing."

"It is designed for search and rescue, plus you are a combat medic."

"I take it Joker is still flying it?"

"Yes he is, him and his fiance EDI."

"EDI, the AI? I've never heard of that sort of relationship before."

"Tali is still a skeptic, I think if it makes him happy let him do it."

Tali looked over at him, "It's just not something you hear of very often. An organic and a synthetic in love. I don't disapprove, it's just very rare."

Shepard got up after noticing everyone was finished and collected the dishes and brought them into the kitchen. Ashley looked at Tali and began chatting with her.

"I saw you two relaxing on the cliff just outside, it's a beautiful view."

"It is, it's growing more beautiful than before since the Geth erected the planetary solar shield."

"I've noticed, the vids don't do Rannoch justice now, its slowely turning into a garden world."

"You know what 'Rannoch' means right?"

"Walled garden if I remember correctly, the alliance has a very limited record on your language."

"It's good that you understand some of our language, most ignore it."

"Only fractures of it, nothing special. My son on the other hand seems to be quite fluent in Kellish, " She got up.

"I think I'm going to need to be headed back to Earth soon, the rebuilding effort doesn't manage itself."

"I understand," Tali got up.

Shepard walked out and Ashley told him she needed to go, he nodded and put his visor back on. Tali and Shepard walked Ashley to the ship and boarded.

"So, Eureka, California huh?" Shepard asked as he set course for the Mass Relay.

"Yep, small town. I was asked to be head of the rebuilding effort before I left."

Ashley got up and fiddled around with her hands slipping something into one of Shepards pockets with a piece of paper. She put her arm around him and kissed his forhead.

"I'm proud of you, saving the galaxy and finding a beautiful Quarian girl," She sat back down.

"Thank you mom."

As they entered the Sol system they noticed fragments of the citidel free floating and beginning to adopt an orbit with Saturn. They approached Earth and the first thing they noticed was one of the arms sticking out of the planet.

"They've been trying to pull it out but they're afraid of cracking the planet if it went too deep," Ashley said as they passed what used to be Zakera Ward.

The approached California quickly and steadily hoping their ships new Identification would keept them from being made into cannon fodder.

"Civilian Alliance Vessel you are clear to land," a voice crakcled over the comms.

"Alliance? Tali I thought Hacket ordered his engineers to have it marked non-alliance civilian?"

"They installed a masked ID on it only the Alliance can read," Tali responded.

As they landed at the Eureka terminal they got up and hugged Ashley.

"Thank you for visiting us," Shepard said as he hugged her tightly.

"Thanks for coming, mother," Tali said a little nervous how she would take it.

"Tali, theres no need to be nervous. You'll always be one of the family," she hugged Tali and walked down the loading ramp.

"I'll be coming your way again don't worry! I love you both!" She yelled.

"I love you too mom!" They yelled in unison, Tali blushed at it but enjoyed the notion that Ashley already considered her as a daughter.

They began exiting orbit and slowely increasing speed to the Mass Relay when an urgent email appeared on both of their Omnitools origionating from Horizon.

The message read,

'Cerberus on Horizon, need help. They've killed most of the colony only 100 survivors at the most left. ~Ashley Williams'